Past Olympic experience: Silver medallist in the 5,000 and bronze medallist in Team Pursuit in 2006 in Turin.

Career accomplishments: World record holder in the 5,000 (6:03.32) and 10,000 metres (12:41.69); Three-time European and two-time World All-Around champion; has won 11 Dutch national titles; 2008 World Skater of the Year; Seven-time World Cup gold medallist.

***

ENRICO FABRIS

Country: Italy

Born: Oct. 5, 1981 in Asiago

Past Olympic experience: Gold medallist in Team Pursuit and men’s 1,500 and bronze medallist in 5,000 in Turin.

Career highlights: The bronze in Turin marked the first time Italy had ever won an Olympic speed skating medal; Six-time Italian champion; winner of three World Cup races; became first European Allround Champion from Italy when he won the 2006 championships one month before the Olympics; in 2007 he won also the European All-Around silver medal and in 2008 the bronze medal.

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CHAD HEDRICK

Country: U.S.A.

Born: April 17, 1977 in Spring, Texas

Past Olympic experience: Gold medallist in the 5,000, silver medallist in the 1,500 and bronze medallist in the 10,000 at Turin.

Career highlights: 2004 All-Around Champion, becoming the third American - following Bonnie Blair and Eric Heiden - to accomplish the feat, while knocking more than a point off the existing world record, reducing it to 150.478; 2004 Oscar Mathisen Memorial Award winner as “best skater of the season”; arguably the greatest in-line skater ever, in 2002, switched to ice after watching on TV as fellow inline skater Derek Parra win a medal at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. In Feb. 2004, a year and a half after he made his switch, Hedrick won the 2004 World Allround Speed Skating Championships, knocking more than a point off the world record points, reducing it to 150.478.

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ARNE DANKERS

Country: Canada

Date of birth: June 1, 1980 in Calgary

Past Olympic experience: Participated in the Men's 1500 m, 5,000 (fifth), 10,000 (ninth) and won a silver medal in men’s Team Pursuit at Turin in 2006. Member of Canadian team at 2002 games in Salt Lake City.

Career highlights: Gold medallist in Team Pursuit at 2007 World Championships; first in both the 1,500 and 5,000 metres at 2008 North American Championships; Canadian record holder in the 3,000, 5,000, 10,000 and Team Pursuit.

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CARL VERHEIJEN

Country: The Netherlands

Born: May 26, 1975 in The Hague

Past Olympic experience: Captured two bronze medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics, in the 10,000-metre race and in the team pursuit. Finished sixth in the 5,000 four years earlier at Salt Lake.

Career accomplishments: Helped Holland win World Championship team pursuit gold in 2007 and 2001; the son of famous skater Eddy Verheijen; in total, has reached the podium 12 times at the World Championships.

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Men's Olympic 5,000-metre long-track speed-skating bios

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